April 7, 2008

RIPON, Wis. – Fresh off a dominating performance in a four-game sweep of Lawrence University, the Red Hawks dominated this week's Midwest Conference Awards. Third Baseman Nick Beaman (Oshkosh, Wis./North) earned Performer of the Week honors for his outstanding hitting display against the Vikings, while Pitcher Matt Dwyer (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) was named Pitcher of the Week for shutting down Lawrence in game one, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

Beaman paced the Ripon offense by hitting a pair of home runs at home during Thursday’s 8-0 series-opening win and came back to hit another homer in the nightcap as Ripon rallied to an 8-3 win. The freshman's bat remained hot as the series shifted to Lawrence on Saturday, hitting his fourth home run of the series, while finishing with six runs scored and five RBI as the Red Hawks rolled to 19-1 and 17-8 victories. For the week, Beaman hit .571 (12-21), with 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, four home runs and two doubles.

Dwyer began the series on a positive note, earning his second win of the season in the series opener. The sophomore lefty pitched a nine-inning complete game shutout of the Vikings, allowing four hits, while striking out five. The effort dropped Dwyer’s ERA to an MWC-best 0.83 among starting pitchers.